Books Read in September

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book. I did find the jumping around to be a little distracting but... as I read it became clear where the author was going. Ariel Lawhon is a master storyteller. I was sometimes confused but never felt like putting it down. The action is non stop and the personal story is intriguing. If you have read other books on SOE this will become a favorite.

View all my reviews

A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first in what may be an interesting series. Many questions are raised, many relationships are hinted at and a whole family is caught up in the story. The plot was interesting but I thought a bit thin. I liked the writing and the way that the story was presented so Electra will get another chance on my bookshelf.

View all my reviews

The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another very devious plot by Peter Swanson. A lot of running around and what seem to be false leads. In the end its a pretty intriguing story. These stories never seem to get old. There is no way to imagine where the story is going until it gets there. If you like mysteries and drama, this book will be perfect. I like stories I can't quite figure out. In this case, as in many Swanson stories, its more how will they solve it. Interesting and fun.

View all my reviews

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sorry to say I read this out of order, do you think it will matter? I read it so fast that my Kindle almost overheated. A devious and convoluted story that had me on the edge of my seat. I was waiting for the next twist. This book is a delight if you like twisty turning books with a good amount of murder in them. Just shows that Peter Swanson should be in the genius category. Characters that jump off the page. You can see what is going on, taste the food and get a little drunk on the drinks. I love a book that feels real.

View all my reviews

Books I read in August, 2024

Leaving Eastern Parkway a novel by Matthew Daub
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I would put this book in the category of "Same old story" I still enjoyed it, from the shocking beginning to the.... well, I don't want to ruin it. Let me just say that the ending is not shocking.
Building the story around handball was genius because I don't know anyone who is involved in handball as a player or spectator. Do you? I count it as a pretty obscure sport, not on my radar at least.
I enjoyed the read but is not on my recommend list because it has little to recommend it. Just a simple story of an orthodox, Hasidic Jew gone rogue.

View all my reviews

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great year for reading.... Each book I read is better than the one before. I could honestly not put this down. The story was complex but never obtuse. The characters jumped from the page. The action sequences were nail biting.
I hesitate to say too much about the story because my book club has selected this for our next book. Suffice it to say the Ariel Lawhon is a master writer. I think that some of the plot lines were pretty easy to decern but all in all I was enthralled by this story and the characters.
It is a pleasure to read about strong women and their supportive husbands.

View all my reviews

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like a painting, this story has layer upon layer, ending in some non-stop action. This is pure Gabriel and not to be missed. As his children grow we find a father, husband and fighter for what is right. His helpmates in this book are drawn from earlier stories but round out his team. I enjoyed this story from start to finish and I can't wait for next summer's edition.

View all my reviews

Books Read in July

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As good or better than her WWII books. The characters, a lot of them, jump off the page and are very well constructed to seem real. Even though there were a lot of characters, the way they were presented made it easy to keep track of them, and their place in the story.
This may be the best book so far this year. The period of time that it covers and the views that you get from the perspective of the characters was incredible. I won't tell my friends what its about because they should discover these characters and this story themselves. I hope you will.

View all my reviews

Shanghai by Joseph Kanon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just a brilliant book. Where did jews go when they were kicked out of Germany in the thirties? Places that did not require visas. One of these was Shanghai, the location of this novel from Joseph Kanon. The characters are as real and emotionally tortured as one might imagine. Leaving their homes and often their livelyhoods. Always leaving their wealth behind because the Nazis would not allow it to leave the Reich.
What was Shanghai like? In some ways a lot like Germany. This tells a story that I had only heard about. This book gets down to the nitty gritty of what a lawless society is like and how people learn to cope.
What a special, magnificent piece of writing. I am in awe of Joseph Kanon's skill as a storyteller.
Read it.

View all my reviews